Unknown / 2008-09-11 00:00:00
Love, in exchange, takes nothing but itself,
Power cannot claim it--fear cannot command--
It is a tribute Queens cannot exact.
The humblest peasant, singing in her hut,
Is often richer than the proudest princess:
It is the gift God left the human race
To keep them from despair, when sin and shame,
Pain, poverty, and death, and madness came
Among the people. When a youthful pair,
Look in each other's eyes and say--"We love"--
The common earth grows to a heavenly world.
Singing of birds, shining of summer suns,
Blooming of flowers and brightness of the moon,
Have a new charm to their elated sense;
They hear the music of the Universe,
Walking, with light feet, to the harmony;
Careless of care and disbelieving pain,
Grateful for life--and all, because _they love_.
Thus have _we_ said those irrecallable words--
Solemnly smiling in each other's eyes--
BERTHO and I--and never to unsay!
Therefore, sweet Queen, command him not, I pray,
To an impossible thing, which needs compel
Rebellion to the will which he respects.
I am a princess, yet will not refuse,
The humblest service which thy pride requires,
If I from BERTHO am not forced to part."
Imperious OENE turned her scornful eyes
Quickly to BERTHO's, as in inquiry;
While he, gathering resolve from OLIVE's face
Of love and anguish, answered the mute look:
"I cannot teach thee love, since it is learned
Only when one heart from another takes
The sweet contagion; but, my bride and I
May humbly teach thee other human lore.
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